Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has credited Stephen McManus for his involvement in introducing youngster Ben Doak to the Hoops first-team.
The 16-year old became the club’s second youngster ever player, coming on as a second-half substitute with Postecoglou looking to change the game in the final third as the fixture approached the closing stages.
Doak caught the eye of some Celtic supporters, with the winger showcasing his ability at such a young age in men’s football.
Speaking after the victory over Dundee United, Postecoglou was full of praise for the youngster and his family and also credited a former academy graduate, McManus, for his involvement in introducing Doak to the first-team fold.
“Ben’s been training with us for a while. It was Stephen McManus, actually, who brought him into the group,” he said, as quoted by the Scotsman.
“He’s a fantastic kid who comes from a good family. He looked really composed for his age.
“He’ll have grown up a bit today; it will give him a different perspective on life. He probably would have been on the other side of the terracing if he hadn’t been playing!”
It was great to see another talented young player make their debut under Postecoglou, with the Celtic manager putting a lot of trust in those within the academy at different points this season.
The 56-year old has also handed debuts to the likes of Owen Moffat, Dane Murray and Joey Dawson – showing that there is a pathway to the first team for these young players.
That is undoubtedly something that has been missing in recent years, and maybe the introduction of McManus to the backroom staff in the first team permanently has helped that with his previous work in the youth groups at Celtic.
This may not be the last we see of Doak this campaign, with the speedy winger vying for more opportunities in the first team from here.
